Baseboard for plaster and the like



1938.. c. s. GARDAILE BASEBOARD FOR PLASTER AND THE LIKE 2 ShQeLS-Sheet 1.

Filed Dec. 13, 1937 INVENTOR CHARLES S. GARDA/LE BY A ATTORNEYS Egg, 3..

Nov. 15, 1938. c, 5 DAI E 2,136,431

BASEBOARD FOR PLASTER AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHARLES 5. GARDA/LE flaw/2.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,136,431 BASEBOARD FOR PLASTER AND THE LIKE Charles S. Gardaile,.Long Island City, N. Y.

Application December 13, 1937, Serial No. 179,412 2 Claims. (01. 72-40) This invention relates to a composition baseboard and the like for receiving and retaining a finishing coat of plaster and which is employed for interior constructions such as walls, partitions and ceilings and more particularly toa baseboard or plaster board of the type in which metallic lathing is embedded in the plastic material for the purpose of reinforcement, fireproofing, etc.

The baseboard or plaster boards under consideration' are generally of rectangular configuration which are attached to the frame work in the manner of ordinary slabs with broken joints and with a space between each slab to allow for a normal expansion and contraction. Considerable difficulty, however, has been experienced with the boards heretofore used in that the cement or plaster penetrating into the space between the adjacent blocks or slabs cracks or crumbles. This defect is accentuated under atmospheric conditions which deviate from the normal, such as excessive moisture which causes undue absorption by the plaster resulting in crumbling, or excessive dryness, excessive heat or excessive cold which causes abnormal expansion and contraction of the structure.

It is, therefore, the object of the invention to provide a baseboard, which, when applied to the building structure, will form a sufficiently tensile and continuous sheathing of metal and plastic material for receiving the finishing coat of plaster, the latter penetrating between the individual blocks or boards to interlock the same against displacement and extending continuously over the entire interior surface without cracking or crumbling irrespective of atmospheric conditions.

Another object is to provide a structural unit or slab, which, when applied to the building structure, will present a tensile or ductile base for the finishing coat of plaster to form a reinforced monolithic structure.

Still a further object is to provide a baseboard of the character indicated in which the reinforcing lathing of the adjacent blocks form a backing or keyway which will be securely locked by the finishing coat of plaster against displacement or undue distortion.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a baseboard according to the invention showing a portion broken away.

Figure 2 is a detailed View of the reinforcing lathing used in the baseboard according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of two adjacent baseboards according to the invention prior to the application of the finishing coat of plaster.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure '5 is a perspective View ofthe mold in which the baseboards according to the invention are made.

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Figure 5 and Figure 7 is a view in side elevation illustrating a wall in process of construction in accordance with the invention.

It is conceded that the use of metallic wire lathing in plaster boards or in composition wall boards is old in the art, but heretofore such lathing has been used primarily in tiles or slabs used as a wall finishing. The metal lathing embedded in these boards serve principally the purpose of reinforcement although in certain constructions it may also provide a means for attachment of the tiles to the wall. However, in view of the difference in application and purpose, these prior constructions do not anticipate the invention which consists essentially in making the reinforcing metal lathing form a keyway for the reception of the plaster as a key to interlock the various slabs composing the wall base. This additional purpose of the reinforcing lathing essentially requires a definite construction and arrangement.

The objects of the invention may be accomplished by embedding a sheet of expanded metal ,lath in a slab plastic material and referring to the drawings, the reference character It indicates the rectangular slab of plastic material in which the expanded metal lath II is embedded. The metal lath l l projects in all directions beyond the edges of the slab I and is cut so that a series of closed loops or ears l2 extend along all of the edges.

The composition of the plastic material forming the slab is preferably one part of plastic material, commonly referred to as neat, one part of cement, and six parts of sharp cowbay sand mixed thoroughly in wet pouring process. The mixture is then poured into the frame l3 within the mold Hi. The expanded metal lath is placed on top of v the mold l3 with the edges projecting beyond the interior side walls of the frame l3. A second frame I is thereupon placed on top of the frame 13 within the mold l4, and the mixture is again poured into the mold. The surface is then flooded and the material allowed to set, and when dry the slab with the metal lath embedded therein is removed. It will be understood that the expanded metal lath may be out either before or after the casting process to form the ears or loops l2.

In forming a wall or ceiling of these baseboards or slabs, they are applied to wooden studs I6 by means of nails or other attaching means and. are arranged so that the projecting ears or loops l2 of the metal sheet H overlap and register as shown in greater detail in Figures 3 and 4. There are thus formed openings or spaces between the edges of the adjacent slabs which are occupied by the overlapping loops or ears l2. It will be seen that the overlapping loops l2 form a perforated keyway and the finishing coat of plaster applied thereto will be received in said perforations to act as a key interlocking the individual blocks.

Not only does the plaster thus applied serve to unite adjacent blocks firmly together, but it will also fill the spaces between these adjacent slabs and be thoroughly keyed therein to form a contlnuous smooth finishing outer surface. In effect the wall or ceiling produced as above described will be a continuous and smooth monolithic structure in which the spaces between the blocks or tiles will not be noticeable. This result is due to the cooperation of the embedded reinforcing metal lathing with the finishing coat of plaster.

It will be understood that various changes, sub stitutions and modifications in the arrangement within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A baseboard for receiving a finishing coat of plaster used in the construction of walls, partitionsand the like comprising a substantially rectangular slab of plastic material, a sheet of expanded metal lath embedded into said slab, said metal lath forming a continuous unbroken mesh of interfitting polygons, the edges of said lath projecting beyond the edges of said slab and with the edges of the rectangular slab cutting across the polygons to leave portions of the polygons at the edge of the lath and beyond the slab uncovered and thereby forming a series of closed loops extending around said slab and adapted to register with the loops of the adjacent slabs maligned superimposed relationship to form a perforated keyway for the reception of the plaster which forms a key penetrating into said superimposed loop-s interlocking said slabs.

2. The baseboard of claim 1, said polygons consisting of hexagons and the edges of the slab cutting across the peripheral-hexagons between two inside corners.

CHARLES S. GARDAILE. 

